Elgin B.
Yelp
This place came with energy!!
First night in NYC, my friends and I decided to check out a local eatery, MamaJuana. It's usually a wait if you have a group, but with our party of three, we were seated right away. The hostess and the security were very welcoming, and all the wait staff was attentive and helpful. We were greeted by a staff member who offered us a table hookah which we accepted. They didn't have many flavors, so we ended up choosing mint. The hookah lasted the entire experience, which I found very impressive. The DJ that night was dope playing Latin and Reggaeton hits all night. MamaJuana goes out of its way to celebrate birthdays. They bring a big sign that sparkles, and the staff sing while the DJ backs them up. For me, it didn't feel too distracting. But ok, time to talk about the food. The portions are pretty large, so my friend and I shared the Bandeja Paisa, which is assorted pork, beef, and fried egg, plantain, rice with a side of beans. It was delicious. My friend's wife got the Chuletas which are fried Pork chops with garlic mashed potatoes, which she also enjoyed. I tried the garlic mashed potatoes, and they were delicious.
Overall it was a fun Friday night dinner environment folks enjoyed themselves. We went around 8:30, so the music wasn't too loud, but I can tell that place became a party later. It's pretty pricey but not too bad for the food on your plate. I almost forgot to talk about the cheesecake, and to be honest, that's because it was just ok. It was my minor favorite item of the meal.
I recommend MamaJuana if you're looking for a fun night out with friends and some good food.
Solid 4 out of 5